Dog officer Kenneth Ferree received
a call to investigate an animal cruelty problem he knew the situation was
going to be bad. Other complaints had been investigated at the same address
previously, but he didn’t expect to find grisly proof of extreme neglect and
abuse. A black male Labrador mix starved to death lay wrapped in a 4 feet
leash around the 3-inch pole to which he was tethered in the basement. As
a result the dog had been given just 30 inches of movement for several weeks
before he died.

Neither denied that the dog, purchased
from Fallen Timber Animal Shelter in January 1999 starved to death.

Phillips’ 14-year-old daughter
found the dog dead and told her uncle. The uncle then informed police.

As the uncle descended into the
poorly lit basement he could hardly see. When he walked downstairs with a
flashlight a swarm of fleas and flies burst up into the air. The room smelled
awful. Then he saw the emaciated dead dog lying in a pool of filth. There
were maggots and fleas all over the dog. He was so skinny there was just skin
lying on his bones. The dog’s toenails had grown to nearly two inches in length
at the time of his death. It must have been a very painful death he said.

When Phillips was questioned about
the dog, she told the investigators that Kushner forbade them from giving
the animal food or water. Bricker said she doesn't believe Phillips. "That
dog was basically left to die". Phillips claimed the last time she fed
the dog was "maybe a couple of days ago". Phillips stated she sometimes
took canned goods from the pantry or gave the dog leftovers while her husband
was sleeping or at work. Bricker asked if he left for work, why didn't you
do something? - Simple, because she was willingly part of the whole sadistic
picture.

The investigator found a computer
with monitor turned on - within feet of the dog's corpse. A washer & dryer
also was on nearby, as well as a lawnmower with freshly cut grass clippings
on it. So these people were coming down to the basement of the house and did
see the dog repeatedly. Upon further investigation it was reported that the
homes' sewer had backed up into the basement where the dog was chained, expelling
human waste into the basement.

When Kushner was questions he became
belligerent and was placed under arrest and taken to McKeesport lockup. Ferree
has cited both Kushner and Phillips at least twice in the past for inhumane
conditions to the dog tied outside with no food and water.

Kushner & Phillips of 1812
Stegman Avenue were charged with animal cruelty and neglect. The necropsy
showed the dog died of starvation but before he died he walked around in his
own feces and urine.